Love is love

Canon EOS 5D Review

Canon's press material for the EOS 5D states that it 'defines (a) new D-SLR category', while we're not typically too concerned with marketing talk this particular statement is clearly pretty accurate. The EOS 5D is unlike any previous digital SLR in that it combines a full-frame (35 mm sized) high resolution sensor (12.8 megapixels) with a relatively compact body (slightly larger than the Canon eos 5d battery, although in your hand it feels noticeably 'chunkier'). The EOS 5D is aimed to slot in between the EOS 20D and the EOS-1D professional digital SLR's, an important difference when compared to the latter is that the EOS 5D doesn't have any environmental seals. While Canon don't specifically refer to the EOS 5D as a 'professional' digital SLR it will have obvious appeal to professionals who want a high quality digital SLR in a body lighter than the EOS-1D. It will also no doubt appeal to current EOS 20D owners (although lets hope they've not bought too many EF-S lenses...)

The Canon EOS 5D is equipped with a newly developed 9-point AF unit with 6 invisible Supplemental AF points. Results include improved AI Servo AF subject tracking and improved focusing from a defocused state. I find the 5D's autofocus to be both fast and accurate - even in low light situations. Although not quite as good as the 1D Mark II and 1Ds Mark II, the 5D performs well for real AF challenges such as action sports photography. My AI Servo AF hit rate through several soccer games was slightly less than what I generally see with the 1Ds Mark II, but still very good.

The 9 AF points span approximately the same subject area as Canon's other Digital SLRs. Like the 20D, the Canon eos 5d battery requires a lens with a maximum aperture opening of at least f/5.6 for AF to function. Canon's 1-Series bodies can AF with a maximum aperture of at least f/8 (1-stop less). All modern lenses have 5D AF-compatible apertures - the difference comes when adding extenders to these lenses. To learn more about the 5D's AF technology, read the white paper (link below).

The Canon EOS 5D's Image quality is excellent. This should be a surprise to none. As a broad statement, I would say that the 5D's image quality falls between the 20D and the Canon EOS 1DS Mark II - more because of the number of pixels than anything else. Dynamic range is good, but appears to be slightly closer to the 20D than the 1Ds Mark II.

The primary advantages of having a digital sensor the same size (24x36mm) as a frame of 35mm film are (1) higher image quality, especially in terms of noise and especially in lower light situations, and (2) the ability to use very wide angle lenses. The only disadvantage to having a full-frame sensor compared to a small-sensor digital SLR body (Canon Digital Rebel or any Nikon) is that the small-sensor effectively increases the magnification of telephoto lenses, which can be useful when you are doing sports or bird photography. Of course, the resolution of the 5D is so high that you could pull out the central 8 MP of a Canon EOS 5D image and it would be almost as though you had taken the photo with a Canon 30D or Digital Rebel.

If you are a wide-angle junkie and have a bunch of older Canon EOS lenses designed for film cameras, you'll love having the Canon eos 5d battery. The small sensor Canon bodies turn an exciting 20mm wide angle lens into a boring 30mm perspective. With the 5D, what you got with your 20mm lens on the film camera is what you get with the 5D.

The Canon EOS 5D is compact and plasticky, but solidly built. Though noisier than a point-and-shoot digital camera, the Canon EOS 5D is extremely quiet in operation, quieter than any modern film body and with a slightly more muted and lower frequency shutter "thunk" than the small sensor Canon bodies.

Full-frame sensors deliver the solution, but unfortunately their cost of manufacture is very high and until the Canon eos 5d battery came along you were looking at spending a considerable sum on one of Canon's top-of-the-range 1Ds models. So while the 5D body at a UK RRP of 2539 can hardly be described as cheap, it's considerably more attainable than the whopping 5000 or so for a 1Ds Mark II. Additionally the 5D's 12.8 Megapixel resolution matches the theoretical detail of a 3000 dpi 35mm film scan which, coupled with the full-frame coverage, makes it a viable replacement for die-hard 35mm owners.

But while the 5D represents the holy grail for some photographers, other have questioned the relevance of full-frame sensors in today's market. Full-frame bodies may have been necessary for extreme wide angle coverage a few years ago, but now ultra-short focal length lenses designed specifically for digital SLRs have effectively counteracted the problem of smaller sensors cropping the field-of-view. In this case, why pay through the nose for an unnecessarily large sensor when a cropped body and ultra wide lens can deliver the same field-of-view at a lower price

Change

A change in time, a change in place
A change of jobs, a change of pace
change your style or change your friends
change your path and change the end
Chance for a 20, change for a 10
Change for the bus, 'Change please, friend'
A change of homes, a change of kin
A change of friends you never win
a change of schools, begin again
A change of age, a change of space
A change of morals, A change of rules
A change of sails, blowing you into the unknown
Many says, I want change
Want change in my time
Want change in my life
I want a change badly
I want change, many say

They pray for a change
They wish for a change
They look for a change
But they will not change
They just wait for change

It never happens to them
It will never ever happen
By mere prayer or wish
It must start from inside
With tons of determination

Change is not so easy
It takes lots of time
So it needs determination
The will to make change
The will to see change

Then only things will change
Then only time will change
Then only life will change
So go and get change
To see the bliss of change

Design for life-- mobile phone

Here is another vintage look at what cellphones can grow to become. Yes, transparent screens are a must and so is the passion for expansive displays. With Google Glasses and other such innovative tech coming around the bend, we have to pause and rethink our perception of communication. Maybe the future of phones will no longer be a candy bar or clamshells. What do you think?

Designer: Huang Wei

Nikon D40 Review

In many ways, you might consider Nikon's D40 the Zelig of digital cameras. Is it a digital SLR with the spirit of a point-and-shoot? Is it a point-and-shoot with the power of a dSLR? It depends upon who's doing the shooting. While the Nikon d40 battery will never morph into an ultracompact or grow up to be high-powered, pro shooter's camera, it covers the in-between fairly well.

Positioned at the very bottom of Nikon's dSLR food chain, the company aims the D40 at first-time dSLR buyers moving up from tricycles to training wheels. As such, it contains an assortment of preexisting parts from its siblings: the same (or very similar) 6-megapixel sensor as its predecessor, the D50, the same processing engine as the D200 and the same 420-pixel sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering II metering system found in the D80. Assuming that the dSLR-craving hordes of newbies don't have any lenses yet, Nikon sells only a kit version, bundling in its new f/3.5-to-f/5.6G, 18mm-to-55mm II ED AF-S DX lens (28.8mm to 88mm equivalent). This assumption also informs Nikon's decision to remove the coupling pin from the lens mount, limiting the capabilities when interfacing the camera with lenses other than the newer AF-S and AF-I models. In other words, this isn't your father's Nikon d40 battery, and it isn't the camera to buy if you've got a stash of Dad's old Nikon lenses. (You can find the compatibility details here).

Nikon's choice of "compromises" with the D40 are switching to a new three area AF sensor (although it seems to be just as fast), removing some of the flexibility (you can't change the CW average area, exposure steps are fixed at 1/3 EV and there's no bracketing) and removing the status LCD (although this has more to do with making the camera smaller than saving money). What the D40 shares with the D50 are some of the important things, the six megapixel sensor, the 420 pixel metering sensor (also used on the D80), the more 'consumer like' default IIIa color mode and 2.5 frames per second continuous shooting (although now unlimited in JPEG mode).

I can tell you that the Nikon D40 is one of the finest family cameras on the market. I've really enjoyed shooting with it, and would seriously consider it as a second camera to something like a D80, D200, or 30D. Those cameras are great for more serious work, but they're also more bulky. The D40 is a camera for capturing fun and family. Its size and design are better suited for such duty. And you can still slap high quality glass on it and shoot with the pros on occasion if you like. The Nikon D40 is perfect for slipping into a small daypack for a hike or picnic. Nikon d40 battery doesn't take a lot of space, and it comes out of the bag quickly. It focuses and shoots so quietly, you're less likely to scare the animals you're trying to capture. Nikon has some excellent inexpensive lenses to add to your kit for just such a purpose, like the 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor, a surprisingly short, good quality zoom lens available for between $170 and $240 online.

Intermediate photographers wanting a camera to start a business on a budget should look to the Nikon D80 or Canon 30D, as these are more suited for professional photography. Those who already own a bagful of Nikon glass should also look to the D50, D70s (before they disappear), or D80, because you want to use that fine Nikkor equipment as long as you can. But if you're just getting started in SLR photography and want a light, sweet, competent, and simultaneously friendly digital SLR, the Nikon D40 is a superb choice.

Nikon D80 Review

Two and a half years ago Nikon announced the six megapixel D70, their first affordable enthusiasts digital SLR, it proved to be a very popular camera and strong competitor to the Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel). Just fifteen months later Nikon revealed the D70s which was essentially the same camera with a some subtle tweaks (improved AF, wider flash coverage, higher capacity battery, larger LCD monitor). And so just over fifteen months on from the D70s Nikon present the latest incarnation of their 'enthusiasts' digital SLR line, the ten megapixel Nikon d80 battery.

The D80 slots nicely between the entry-level D50 and the semi-professional / professional D200, clearly based on the D70 design but also different enough to be seen as a completely new model. It features a ten megapixel DX format CCD (the same we presume as used by Sony in the DSLR-A100), the metering sensor from the D50 and numerous other items taken or modified from the D200.

UPDATE 18/Dec/06: In our original review a mistake was made in the measurement of the ISO sensitivity of the Canon EOS 400D as used for comparison, this has now been corrected and the releveant pages of this review updated.

The camera body is technically slightly smaller in all dimensions compared to those of the D70s, but current owners will find the design very similar. Most of the buttons are the same and in the same places, and there are dedicated buttons for many commonly used functions. For example, a cluster of buttons next to the shutter let you change metering mode, exposure compensation, drive mode, and AF mode. Meanwhile, the buttons to the left of the 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD screen let you change white balance, ISO, and image size and quality settings without diving into menus. About the only function without its own dedicated control is AF zone selection, though the camera's programmable function button can be programmed to cover that if you so choose. The default for this button is to display the current ISO setting.

Three dials adorn the camera body. The Nikon d80 battery lets you choose between program, aperture- or shutter-priority, full manual, full auto, or any of six preset exposure scene modes. The other two dials, located on the front and back of the grip, let you change aperture and shutter speed. Together, they make full manual shooting quick and easy.

Nikon's menu system is straightforward and, for the most part, intuitive. An option in the setup menu lets you hide some of the menu items by either selecting Nikon's preshortened Simple menu, which displays only what Nikon thinks are the most commonly changed menu items, or My Menu, which lets you choose which items the camera displays in each of the playback, shooting, custom setting, and retouch menus. Never heard of the retouch menu? That's because it's new.

The more clear differences come in ergonomics, usability, and other performance. The D80 simply doesn't get anything wrong in any of those categories. It's a well-rounded design that does everything well, but nothing perfectly. The other 10mp cameras all seem to get one thing or another not quite right, so I'd say they do most everything well. But you really need to handle and test these cameras yourself to see if anything holds you back on any individual camera. My advice is to try as many of the models as you can and choose based upon your visceral reaction to the designs. You'll clearly prefer the way one or another is laid out and the controls managed. That's the one you should choose Nikon d80 battery. Because, when all is said and done, these cameras are all going to get very similar results in the hands of the skilled. Thus, the key differentiator is whether or not you're going to feel comfortable "getting skilled" with that camera. How fast can you change controls? How much (and how clear is the) information you are getting from the camera? Has Thom Hogan written a book about it that really tells you how the camera works? (Okay, shameless self promotion, that was. What can I say, I woke up this morning with as much testosterone as Floyd Landis, apparently ;~) Does the feature set have the controls you'll want as you grow in shooting confidence?

Amazing 3D Book Collages Bring Classic Stories to Life

Artist Kelly Campbell Berry doesn't just let a book come alive in her own imagination. She actually creates book sculptures where the words and characters burst out of the pages for all to see. In each piece, the Oklahoma-based artist collages layers of illustrations with snippets of text from the story. Her visual interpretations are filled with the energy and adventures from many children's novels including Peter Pan, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Where the Wild Things Are, andCharlotte's Web.

Berry says, "I am truly amazed at the ability some people have to arrange words in such a way that we, the readers, can actually ¡®see¡¯ into the imagined world of the writer. We relate, feel, and become invested in the characters so deeply that we are pulled into their world for a brief moment of escape. My book sculptures are my way of showing what the words on the pages create in the imagination of the readers."

Millennium Tower World Business Center by Asymptote Studio

On 25 January Asymptote Architecture, a New York based architecture practice led by principals Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture, has been awarded the Millennium Tower World Business Center (WBCB) in Busan, Korea through an international competition organized by the Busan International Architectural Culture Festival (BIACF) and sponsored by the Municipality of Busan City and the Solomon Group. The announcement was made on January 23 in Busan after a unanimous decision by jury members selecting Asymptote¡¯s ground breaking design of three separate tapered towers rising out of a robust and powerful base. The Solomon Group, a private Korean developer, intends to move forward with Asymptote¡¯s design for a 560m tall tower, which upon completion will be the tallest building in Asia. Asymptote¡¯s three-towered design for the World Business Center Busan is a newly minted approach where the notion of singularity and autonomy gives way to a strong juxtaposition of form and voids. Simultaneously a single entity, the towers are also read as three distinct forms set against Busan¡¯s dramatic natural backdrop of sea and mountains. The base of the tower artfully negotiates the site at the entrance level while from the top of the midsection the three slender towers rise above the skylobby level and gracefully taper upwards around a spectacular central void. Through its formal and sculptural qualities this unique architectural expression is a powerful symbol of 21st century Busan and a beacon for it¡¯s trajectory into the future and onto the global stage.
Architect: Asymptote

Most Beautiful Places In The World<1>

Machu Picchu, Peru

Located on a mountainous area above the Urubamba Valley, Machu Picchu is a pre-Colombian Inca site and regardless of whether you have an interest in history or not, can make you stop and stare in sheer awe.

Built initially in the middle of the 15th century, Machu Picchu was said to have been inhabited for around 100 years before it became uninhabited and went uncovered for over 3 centuries, until Hiriam Bingham, a Yale lecturer, rediscovered the site in July 1911.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Officially the largest reef system on earth, the Great Barrier Reef has almost 3,000 reefs encompassed within the 2,600 kilometre area of land that it covers.

Although the Great Barrier Reef is clearly visible from space, it is when looking at it from underneath water when it truly appears to be beautiful and somewhat magical. Over 1,500 types of fish call the Great Barrier Reef home and in excess of 400 types of coral can be viewed in the area, meaning if you get chance to visit the area, you should make sure that you take along an underwater camera.

Oludeniz, Turkey

Widely regarded as being home to the most photographed beaches anywhere in the Mediterranean, Olu Deniz is located on the cost of the Aegean Sea in south west Turkey.

Masses of crystal clear, stunning blue sea and white sandy beaches can be seen from almost any point in the town, but if you¡¯re wanting to see the beauty from above, take off from Babadag Mountain, one of the most popular places in the world to paraglide from.

City of London, England

Similar to Manhattan, New York, London ¨C particularly the City of London ¨C is one of the most visited cities in the world, as well as being one of the most densely populated.

London is one of those parts of the world that caters for everyone, being able to provide some type of beautifcation irrelevant of your personal tastes. The Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace are pieces of architectural beauty, whilst Hyde Park, Kensington Park and Regent¡¯s Park all provide many square kilometres of natural beauty.

Take Your Work Outdoors

There is many a day I dream about taking my computer out of this stuffy office & working out in the open air! If you work a 9-5 job, then you know the feeling. Designed for public spaces like parks or campuses, the WorkaWay workstation serves as an office away from your office! Stations can be reserved with a smartphone app & feature a built-in computer or WiFi connection so you can use your own computer. Powered by solar panels on top, they¡¯re a perfect getaway for anyone itching to get out of the office.